Conveyer



W. ROBERTSON.

C'O-NVEYER.

APPLICATION man JULY 3, 1917.

Patented May 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM ROBERTSQN, OF CHICAGO, ILLIOIS.

CONVEYEB.;

i Specification ofrLetters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1921.

Application ined Juiy 3, 1917. serial No. 178,488.

To all who/m t may cof/wcm:

Be it known that I, VTILLTAM ROBERTSON, ak citizen or' the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city ot Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements inConveyers; and l do hereby declare that the tollowing is a full, clear,Vand'eiract description of the same, reference being had to theaocoinpanying drawings, `and to the numerals of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this speeiication. l

This application is directed to thatcla-ss of mechanisms shown in myissued Patent No. 822,153, for material and cinder pit elevators, datedMay 29, 1906.

rllhis invention relates to an improved type of conveyor' particularlyadapted foruse in conveying and elevating ashes, cinders or othermaterial'to a'car to receive the'same, as tor instance, at a'power plantstation where ash handling is a considerable factor in the operation olthe plant. Many diiy ferent methods have been devised for handling theashes or cinders at large power plants, and generally different types`are adapted for different installations according to the conditions oroperation as well as situation o' the plant. This invention relates tothat type ofconveying mechanism wherein la dump car is utilized-toreceive the cinders when disposed on a track in a pit provided for thepurpose, then elevated on the inclined track to dumping position todischarge thecinders for instance into a car on a siding.

It is an object therefore of this invention to construct a conveyingsystem 'for handling ashes, cinders, or other material com"- prising aninclined track with a dump car adaptedto be operated thereon from areceiving position in' a pit to a dumping position over a railway car orotherreceiv-ing means, by suitable mechanisms provided for the purpose.v

It is also an, object of this 'inventionto construct a conveyercomprising an inclined track leading from-a pit toa point elevatedVabove the railway car, and equipped with a dump car adapted to be drawnfrom the pit to a position over the railway car to discharge thecontents of the dump car thereinto, and with'a cylinder movable withrespect to a stationary piston and provided with means connected to thecarto haul the car upwardly on the inclined track andact as acounterweight therefor duringl return movement of the car to itsreceiving pit.

It is also an object of this invention to .construct av conveying systemembracing an inclined track leading rom'a pit to a point above arailroad siding upon which a receiving car may be switched, and with adump car mounted on said inclined trackadapted to bepulled upward fromthe pit to dumping position over the railway car by a movable pressureactuated cylinder moving with reference to a fixed piston, connected tooperate said dump` ear, and acting as a counterweight thereforwhen thecar is allowed to descend' to its initial position in the pit.

Itis iinally an object ot this invention to construct an Vimproved typeof `conveying mechanism embodying a car movable upon an inclined trackdue to movement ofa cyl- 4inder which' acts as a counterweight'for thecar, the cylinder movingwith'refereiice to a fixed piston under thecontrol of valves governing the flow of fluid into the cylinder.

The invention (in a preferred form)y is illustrated in' the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

ln the drawings: n Figure 1 is a side View partly insection and partlyinelevation of aconveying device constructed according to the principlesof my invention. l

Fig. 2 is an end view 'of the structure illustrating the movable powercylinder mounted therein.y

Fig. ,3 is a central sectional view taken through the power cylinder ina lowered position withy parts shown in eleva-tion. n

-I `ig. tis a top plan view of the power cylinder and its associatedsheaves.

Fig. 5, is a detail section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings: g The reference numeral 1, indicates as awholev an inclined track, the lower endk of which terminates ina pit 2,constructed beneath a railroad track 3, and the upper end of which issupported by an upright-V frame structure consisting of side uprights 4,with inner guide channel upright members 5, connected thereto by swaybracing 6, and further reinforced by transverse members where necessary.`Said track 1, is also supported intermediate the framework 45, and inthe pit 2, by an upright frame stanchion 7. A small dump car 8, adaptedto run upon the inclined track 1, is provided with iio the rails of thetrack 1, and leading upwardly therewith to near the upper end thereofand inclining` downwardly thereat asV clearly shown in Fig. 1. Thus whenthe car is drawn into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, thewheel 10, rolling downwardly on the bent end of the track 11, will causethe hinged bottom of the car to swing downwardly, thus dumping thecontents of the car through the bottom thereof. The track rails 13, ofa` railway siding are disposed between the stanchions 7, and the framestructure 4 5, so that a rail-- way car 111, may be switched intoposition beneath the inclined track 1, to receive the contents of thedumpcar S, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.`

Journaled at the upper end of the structure 4 5, between the guidemembers 5, are a pair of sheaves 15 and 16, respectively, and disposedto slide between said uprights 5, is a cylinder 17, provided withguidinglugs 18, on the exterior surface thereof at opposite sides at each endof said cylinder to engage with the `channeled guide framey members 5.Secured upon the upper end or" the cylinder 17, are bearing brackets 19,in which are journaled a pair of sheaves 2O and 21, respectively,.andsecured to the upper end of the cylinder 17, and trained about therespectivesheaves 15, 16', 20 and 21, is a cable 22, the other end ofwhich is provided with a yoke 23, in which is journaled a pulley wheel24, which is engaged on a curved rod 25, secured at the front end of thedump car 8. Secured in upright position between the side channels 5, isa stationary pipe or pist-on rod 2G, which extends through a packinggland 27, in the lower end of the movable cylinder 17, and on itsinterior within said cylinder, is provided with a stationary piston 28.Just below said piston 2S, said tubular piston rod is provided withopenings or apertures 29, for the admission of air or steam underpressure into said cylinder. Any suitable admission and release valve orvalves may be connected to the lower end of the pipe line 2G, thoughnone is shown, but.l since these types of valves are well known, it isnot deemed necessary to illustrate the same.

The operation is as follows:

The normal position of the parts of the conveyer system is that shown infull lines in Fig. 1, that is, with the dump car 8, disposed' on thetrack 1, in the pit 2, and the cylinder 17, at the upper end of theframe 4 5. l/Vhen it is desired to elevate the dump car 8, to dumpingposition, steam or air under pressure is admitted into the cylinder 17,through the stationary piston rod 26, the steam or air flowing throughthe apertures 29, thereof, into the interior of the cylinder beneath thestationary piston 28, so that the cylinder 17, is caused to slidedownwardly in its guides 5, thereby draw.- ing the cable 22, through thepower reduction sheaves to elevate the dump car on its track, so thatthe fifth wheel 1Q, supporting the hinged bottom 9, thereof may swingdownwardly at the curved end of the rail 11, permitting the contents ofthe dump car 8, to fall into the railway receiving car 14. The valve orvalves controlling the flow of Huid into the cylinder 17, are thenturned to release position to relieve the pressure in the power cylinderand the car 8, returns to its receiving pit by gravity, counterweightedby the weight-of said cylinder 17. y

I am aware that various details` of construction inay be varied througha wide lrange without departing from the principles of my invention, andI therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

` I claim as my invention:

In a conveyer,a vertical cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a hollowrod supporting said piston, an inlet from the interior of said rod intosaid cylinder just below said piston, a packing box in the lower end ofsaid cylinder through which said rod passes, i

guides on the exterior of said cylinder and stationary verticalguideways coopera-ting therewith, sheaves supported on the upper end ofsaid cylinder, `and cooperating sheaves supported above the first namedsheaves by said guideways, and afcable 'working' over said sheaveswhereby on admission of fluid under pressure into said hollow rod, thecylinder will descend and a pull be exerted on said cable.

. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. 4

wiLLiAMl RoBnnrsoN; VVit-nesses CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr., EARL M.I-IARDINE.

